not a help // Blaise Zabini
Synopsis. Sitting with the quiet guy of your class for a potions assignment.
Pairing. Blaise Zabini x hufflepuff.g.n.reader
A.n. I need to get a solid characterization of bro 🥀🥀
Yes. // No__ requested by @siruslyloony4u
Quiet man, stern, nonchalant. Whatever you call him Blaise Zabini wasn’t one to talk with strangers. Hell if you asked his friends, the most he tends to add is one to two snarky remarks or a correction of fact to a conversation.
And you, Well you’re a good student. You try your hardest to pass and come out with good results. You’re a kind person, that’s what your house is known for after all.
You’re the person to not hesitate to help. So what happens when your partner for potions refuses to let you do any work?
It was a good day. You had some much needed rest the night before, you were in your favorite class for a group project with the guy you had a big fat crush on.
You and Blaise were paired up in potions for your finals.
You sat at the table around the cauldron and the respective Iran’s you’d use for the assignment. Butterflies flutter in your stomach as you look across at Blaise. He was going over the items.
The assessment was for you and your partner to use the ingredients given to your pair and decode and decide what potion you were supposed to make. The intended outcome was from a list of potions your class did all semester and each table had different ingredients and intended outcomes.
Snapping back to reality from your long gaze of Blaise you decided to do the same as him, look over the vials and herbs. Just as you were about to grab some roots a hand snatches them from under you, measures, and drops them into the cauldron.
This was a group project wasn’t it?
So why is Blaise doing all the work?
He didn’t let you do a thing. Some people may like that prospect but no, not you. It was infantilizing in your mind. You could do this project too! But, this was the guy you've been after since well- forever. You didn't want to make a bad impression so you sat back, tired to tell yourself that this was okay, but it sure as hell didn't feel like it. Soon Blaise was done and the potion was complete. Mr Slughorn came by to look at it, perfect grade. You should be proud, right?
But alas, there was a pit in your stomach. It hurt you being. Was it jealousy of Blaise's skill? No. bad food? No. what it was, was guilt. You didn't want to take credit for another's work. As good as it sounded it wasn't what you wanted.
Wasn't all this morals crap for the gryffindors?
The class continued until the charm for the next class. You had spent half of that 70 minute class time staring at the ground with your forehead pressed on the table. Your stomach churned and flipped, it felt like a mix of that guilt and embarrassment. Blaise had done all the work, that's a horrible impression! You're trying to impress the guy you like not latch off him like a leech.
The sound of the bell was sweet relief. You instantly grabbed your bag but something in you made you stay. The rest of the class filed out rather unorderly with blaise at the back. His friends tugged him along as he glazed back at you standing alone with your bag draped over your shoulder. You turned away from the door and came up to professor Slughorn's desk as he sat behind it.
He looked up at you with a smile. “You did well! Fastest pair I've ever seen” he complimented but you couldn't stomach it.
“It wasn't me!” you blurted, cheeks hotter than the sun's core.
He looked at you with pure surprise. “What do you mean?” his brows furrowed as he leaned closer over his desk.
Your eyes shut closed and your hands tightened on your cross body bag, “it-it was all blaise!” you stammered, “i-i didn't do a thing! I uh tried to but anyway I'd like to re-retake it another time” your voice lowered down to a whisper, “it that is alright with you. That is, Professor Slughorn.”
He leaned back into his chair. “Well if you want too i suppose.” he sighed though he still kept his familiar smile.
You don't know why you were so nervous. But it was over anyway.
You bowed quickly and scabbled out of the class. As you did so you looked out into the hallway and there he was, Blaise Zabini. He was leaned against a stone pillar and his dark, obsidian eyes locked with yours. He pushed himself off his spot and he walked up to you.
“Why didn't he take the credit?” he said coldly.
“Oh so uh” you looked back into the class room for a second, “you heard that?” you winced slightly as he confirmed your suspicion.
“But why?” he asked again, “you would've passed with flying colors.”
“But it would not have been my work.” you stammered. “It would've been your work. That doesn't sit well with me.”
Surprisingly, he laughed. Well it was more like an amused huff but it was there nonetheless. “Think the sorting hat choose wrong,” he joked.
“Oh I guess.” you chuckled. After that there was uncomfortable silence but instead of leaving Blaise asked another question.
“Why didn't you try to help?”
It caught you off guard. A pit returned in your stomach. “Well you just seemed so in the zone and when i tried to help you took the stuff from right under my hand.” you tried to nervously pass it off as nothing.
His brows furrowed and his weight moved to one leg. “If you're going to cosplay a gryffindor maybe get some more confidence,” he huffed before turning on his heel and leaving.
He turned down the hall and now you were left alone with your thoughts. Professor Slughorn's call from his class room for you to get onto your classes snapped you out of your daze.
Shit! He's right! Mrs Umbridge wasn't a forgiving woman.
Your conversation with Blaise didn't help you through your class. His voice and face were engranded into your mind for the rest of the day. It was the longest you had held a conversation with him.
And hopefully you'd get more.
But who knows, you sure don't.
divider by @cursed-carmine
